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A man gunned down Thursday on Chicago's West Side marked what police say is the city's 500th homicide of the year. It's a dubious distinction that hasn't occurred since 2008, when the city ended the year with 512 murders.
Mayor Rahm Emanuel called the total "an unfortunate and tragic milestone, which not only marks a needless loss of life but serves as a reminder of the damage that illegal guns and conflicts between gangs cause in our neighborhoods."
"The brave officers of the Chicago Police Department work tirelessly to continually reduce crime, but this is not just a law enforcement issue," Emanuel said in a statement.
Around noon Friday, News Affairs released a statement to clarify that Chicago's murder total remains at 499 because classification of one death investigation remains pending. They would not specify which death is pending.
Police released few details about the shooting in the 4900 block of West Augusta.
The man, identified by the Cook County Medical Examiner's Office as 40-year-old Nathaniel T. Jackson, was shot around 9 p.m. and pronounced dead at John H. Stroger Jr. Hospital at 12:18 a.m.
Tawfik Salman, owner of Noah Foods, said he heard four or five gunshots and dropped to the floor.
"It was pop pop pop pop," Salman said. "We seen a guy laying down in front of the store. I just went to the phone and called police."
According to police, homicides are up 17 percent from last year and shootings up 11 percent..
"It's sad you know. I guess this is part of the violence in Chicago," Salman said. "It's a sad thing that's going on."
At a peace dinner held Thursday, residents came together to talk about ways to end violence. Alderman Anthony Beale, who is running for Jesse Jackson Jr.'s old 2nd Congressional District seat, said Supt. Garry McCarthy needs to change strategies.
"His philosophy is not working," Beale said. "We need to put resources where the problems are, and then you will see crime drop across the city."
Chicago surpassed 2011's 435 murder total in October
Police said Chicago's 499th homicide victim was a man who died after he was shot at least four times – including in the face and chest – in a Gage Park neighborhood alley Wednesday night on the Southwest Side.
Frederico Martinez, of the 5400 block of South California Avenue, died from gunshot wounds he suffered near his home, according to the Cook County Medical Examiner’s office.
Police said the 32-year-old Martinez was standing with a female in an alleyway down the block from his home when a light-colored pick-up truck approached and somebody inside opened fire.
Martinez was shot in the face, chest and both arms and was taken to Mount Sinai Hospital, where he died at 10:41 p.m., authorities said.
Behind the troubling statistics, flashing lights and crime tape, communities throughout the city are searching for solutions.
"There's no magic spell that can end it. It's a matter of people and neighborhoods coming together and deciding that it's not going to happen," said neighbor Robert Grider.
Larry Pickens, who is running in the special election in the 2nd Congressional seat, offered a few suggestions Thursday: "Teaching our young people alternative dispute resolution, non-violent strategies for addressing conflict and getting guns off the street."
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I bet 95 percent of the people shot didn't have a gun with them,I heard in New York they are going to stop the subways because a second man killled when he was pushed in front of a train.
Well the good news is he wasn't shot.
They just need to outlaw pushing in New York. That would stop the problem. If you push somebody in New York City you will be arrested! Immediately there will be no one on the streeets or subways, everyone including the cops will be in jail.
Chicago is the perfect example of how Gun Control fails. Why can't the politicians see it!?
Because those who hold the purse strings for their campaigns would prefer to have us unarmed, cowering and subserviant.
Corrupt politicians love those victims. Then they can save them with all of their gun laws.
I guess there is something to former NYC Mayor Guiliano's campaign on quality of life crimes vs the liberal bs that is in Chicago now!
How's that gun control working for you Chicago? Great I see. Since only Outlaws carry guns, Outlaws control the town. Can't argue with results.
Um,Tightest gun laws just about anywhere, Liberal City, Liberal State, controlled by Democrats- Corrupt city Govt, out of control crime, high taxes and excessive regulation. Thank God they are keeping Chick -Fil-a out. Hey 3 days left in the year to get over that 500 milestone. Great Job Rahm!
Gun Control at it's finest...Chicago, NYC & DC.... wow... great job.
How many of those 500 were children? Why did the liberals not strike up fast paced gun restrictions over chicago's minority children? Are the white kids in Connecticut more important than the minorities in Chicago? The the democrats, they apparently are! how is that liberal compassion working out for all of you democrat voters?
Both ends of each party really need to meet in the middle. Banning guns is not the answer! and allowing guns to flow freely in the hands of criminals through gun show loop holes and private selling needs better control. Let legal law-abiding citizens own guns. Do background checks...It's so easy to purchase a gun in some of the hick states. Some vendors don't even ask for your ID, just give them an extra $20.
Ken,
You get the prize for the first Liberal to post on this article!
By the way, there is already a national law requiring background checks on all guns purchased through gun dealers. The loop hole everyone refers to is the private selling of firearms from individuals that happens at the gun shows on the side, all dealers still have to do background checks at the gun shows. In my opinion, all law abiding citizens should still be able to sell and buy guns from another individual without the Federal BS that goes with being a licensed dealer, this is supposed to still be a free country.
"Hick States", Ken? You are obviously a demoncrat. Care to list the "hick states" and provide proof of how easy it is to obtain a firearm? I'm waiting.
What a great country, isn't it ?? It looks more like a country at war !
To us, europeens, it is shocking !
Weapons do not belong in a civilized society, PERIOD !
You government needs to get all the weapons off the street !! more than 30 000 americans are shot each year, and the numbers are growing !
Paranoia is a mental desease, morons ! You guns nuts need to check into a mental institution !!!
My american family does not own guns, they live on the east coast and they re still alive !
PARANOIA.. CHECK THE WORD IN THE DICTIONNARY ! To live in fear is no way to live !!!!!!!
As long as you have so much poverty, so many people with mental health problems, you will have crimes ! It is your choice ! Or you pay a little more taxes so there can be a relief on poverty and health care, or you will keep living in a violent society ! your choice, people !!!
Good social programs are not socialism, it is GOOD COMMON SENSE and it allows a better, more compassionate, and more civilized society !
um...Australia really is a good example of how gun control is pretty freaking stupid
Fools2008, describes the mentality of some poor demented, deranged, partially educated Europe peone. Stay on your side of the "pond" and behave yourself and please refrain from trying to express an opinion or view. You flunked the course and must start all over again.
In the Netherlands young men are required to spend time in the army and then are allowed to take their weapons home with them. No killings there. And we are watching you Europeans rioting in Greece and other countries. Seem like a violent lot to me.
We have 300 million guns iin America and if guns were a real problem or were used to kill people our population would be zero in a week. In states where carry permits are allowed the crime rate and killings by guns are very low. It is these liberal bastions like Illinois and Connecticut where honest people are not allowed to protect themselves where the killings if they were first grade children in a school.
Yall have been against us owning guns ever since we handed yall that ass whooping in 1776.... and again in 1812. It would have been much easier to take us down if we wouldn't have had any, huh? That pesky Second Amendment!
BTW.... I read an article in the UK Daily way back in 2009 that the violent crime rate is higher in the UK than in South Africa. I checked the sources and I'll be damned if it wasn't correct! That was in 2009. This is 2012 and yall are still in denial?
Also, isn't the Nazi Party on the rise again in Europe over there in Greece? They won't have to confiscate privately held handguns first this time before slaughtering millions. Yall have already done that part for them. Good luck fighting them off next time because, unlike my grandfather, I'm not willing to come over there and save your sorry asses again. You make your bed, you lie in it.
Fools2008, perhaps you should look at crime statistics in Europe. The countries with low (or "required") gun control have the lowest homicide rates (netherlands, switzerland, germany), and those with absolute are some of the highest (luxembourg, hungary, england)?
HARVARD LAW (fairly liberal school AND Obama's alma mater) produced a study a few years back documenting how gun crime was lower in areas where gun ownership was densest, and highest in areas where it's less dense. This was using statistics from both European sources and U.S. (separately to discover any patterns).
The study even goes on to state gun control was at an all time LOW before gun control was introduced.
So, americanfools2008, if you'd like to post links stating the opposite, i'd love to see them. Unfortunately, this forum isn't letting me copy and paste, or even post links, but I can tell you what to google search: "harvard law gun control"
Fools2008,
Since you are not American, please keep your opinion to yourself, you have no right or skin in this game!
Oh, and americanfools2008, I'll agree with you that good social programs are good for society. Not social programs that are easily abused or reduce the quality of care provided.
And if you don't think that's true, why do so many cross the border from Canada seeking to pay out of pocket for treatment in the U.S.? And it's actually not just U.S., I've known a lot of brits who have actually immigrated just so they could get decent healthcare.
how'd that sheeple attitude work for you in the late thirties? Dumbass EUROTRASH!
Thank God americans with guns never landed in Europe. Say on the beaches of Normandy or Omaha. You twit
Every human being has the right and responsibility to protect their own continued existence.
If you allow a government entity to assume that responsibility for you, you are no longer a free citizen, you are a ward of the state.
Most of Europe has allowed that responsibility to be assumed by their governments.
This is not freedom.
This is the future of the United States with the gun laws that Washington wants to enact. Ever hear of the term Don't bring a knife to a gun fight. The law abiding citizens will have the knives and the criminals will have the guns. Try and protect yourself in that situation and then see what happens.
Chicago is the image of what the United States will be like when federal gun control advocates get their way.
Let's not let them get their way.
I believe MCGUSTO has capsulized the whole story except this bit...You can't fix stupid along with another fine example of Democrapic leadership as is the case with every major U. S. city. You will see a real performance if the EBT cards aren't issued, the Medicaid Mammies can't do their thang, ya know have them welfare young'uns.
We as a country owe places like Chicago a lot of thanks for showing the rest of the law-abiding, working people, the contributors what will take place if we aren't very careful. Take a lesson America, it's coming to a city near you...soon.
Yup that gun control idea is SOOO great...haha sarcasm intended. Bet NBC and CNN won't make this story a top priority.
They'll make it a priority, but it will have THEIR spin on it.
More laws - Or how about less laws and the bangers figure out other people have guns and will use them to defend themselves!
Chicago, that bastion of failed liberalism. Sounds like they need a qualified Community Organizer to come in there and straighten that place out. Oh, never mind.
How can this be? Chicago has some of the toughest and most restrictive gun laws in the country. Maybe the lesson is that we must take all guns away from liberals as Chicago is also a most liberal city.
Compare this to the gun deaths per capita in Denver where the ability for a law-abiding citiaen to get a gun carry permit is very high.
For a real shocker, compare Chicago gun deaths per capita with Kennesaw, GA, where gun ownership is mandatory. There is such a glaring imbalance that the only logical conclusion that can be made is that our government is actually purposely allowing the killing of American citizens by restricting access to guns.
Hmmm, this is queer....I don't see any anti-gun fanactics ranting on THIS thread...coincidence???? Exactly.
Interesting use of the word "queer." You are using it in the way it wasintended. I thought the PC crowd banned that word along with so many other legitimate words of our language. Mext thing you know some one will use the word "retard" - which was once a word of art in Inteligence measuring.
Run Liberals, Run.....
Super tough gun laws work, not!
Stop blaming liberals, you morons !!!! I am a liberal and very proud of it !
Because of us, women can vote and you get social security !!!
Republicans ARE the problem ! They are ignorant, racist, backward, nasty, and greedy !! THEY ARE WHAT'S WRONG IN YOUR COUNTRY !
Any one voting for them is an idiot, and an ignorant one !
No, liberal, you just enjoy paying for everyone who does not deserve it. Can't wait till the cliff comes and you liberals will be paying even more. You brought this on yourselves and I hope you drown in your own stupidity. Greed has nothing to do with it. Everyone pays his/her own way or perishes.
Maybe you should "talk" to those mean people shotting each other - You think?
You are indeed an American fool !
Except, nutcup, the Democrats control Chicago, and have since the dawn of time. Everything that happens in Chicago is exactly what happens in Democrat controlled welfare paradise.
So...rave all you want, but the truth is the truth. This is Obama territory.
Liberals are greedy thieves who steal from the productive rather than work to make a life for themselves. Thye suck the life out of the system as they give nothing and take anything that they can get their greedy hands on. That they are stupid is epitomized by Chicago. Liberal politicians have controlled that city forever and there is more poverty and crime there than ever. Yet they give the morons a free trash can and they vote Democrat like the idiot lemmings they are.
Nice try liberal. Spreading your hatred as usual...
As a reporter on CNN just said about all the killings in Chicago there are people in Chicago that would rather be a member in a gang, sell drugs, etc than to work at a regular job!
Its the same in Los Angeles, New York, Detroit, Dallas, Houston and any large city, you have people with guns that don't care about anyone and if you took away the guns they would find another way to kill!
And it is these corrupt city machines that elected Democrats in general and the lying scumbag Obama in particular - not the people! It is why we must listen to the House and not the Senate - they are the true representatives of the people!
"it is why we must listen to the House and not the Senate - they are the true representatives of the people!"
Yeah, if by "people", you mean Citizens United supporters like Dow Chemical, Lockheed Martin, Raytheon, and General Electric.
The same House that voted against the Veterans Jobs Act that they had authored just weeks before the vote, because they were afraid that giving employing 20,000 returning American servicemen and women would give Obama too much political capital during the election cycle?
Try this, friend. Do your own thinking, and don't blindly follow partisan leadership. Both parties are obviously in the same business - lining their own pockets and feeding at the public trough. They depend on Americans on opposite sides of issues to get so caught up in this political theater that we ignore the fact that they (both sides) are selling away the soul of our nation for their own gain.
Doesn't Chicago have one of the nations strictest gun laws?
I was going to comment on their having some of the most strict gun laws in the nation, and how well they're working for them, but everyone else beat me to it. I don't know how anyone can honestly believe more gun restrictions on law abiding citizens is the answer.
Gotta love that multiculturalism.
How would disarming honest citizens disarm criminals? The same way honest citizens down have Heroin, but criminals do (Heroin is banned).